Consumer Resources

Better Business BureauThe Better Business Bureau is a resource for objective, unbiased information on businesses. Its network of national and local BBB operations allows the organization to monitor and take action on thousands of business issues affecting consumers at any given time. The BBB provides educational information and expert advice that is free of charge. The BBB seeks to create a community of trustworthy businesses; set standards for marketplace trust; encourage and support best practices; celebrate marketplace role models, and denounce substandard marketplace behavior.

Canadian Consumer Information Brought to you by Canada's Office of Consumer Affairs, the Canadian Consumer Information Gateway is a strategic partnership between more than 400 federal departments and agencies, provincial and territorial ministries and NGO partners, to provide consumer information, tools and services. The goal of the CCI is to empower consumers and help to ensure a fair marketplace where all businesses respect consumer protection laws.

CarFaxCarFax reports contain vehicle history information that can impact a consumer's decision about a used vehicle. CarFax receives information from more than 20,000 data sources including every U.S. and Canadian provincial motor vehicle agency, along with information from auto auctions, fire and police departments, collision repair facilities, fleet management and rental agencies. Vehicle History Reports are available on all used cars and light trucks model year 1981 or later, using the vehicle identification number (VIN) from a database of more than six billion records. CarFax reports include title information, including salvaged or junked titles, flood damage history, total loss accident history, odometer readings, lemon history, the number of owners, accident indicators, state emissions inspection results and service records.

Consumer Information Center
For more than 35 years, the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) has been a trusted one-stop source for answers to questions about consumer problems and government services. Consumers can get the information they need in three ways: by calling toll-free 1 (800) FED-INFO, through printed publications and online through various social media channels and FCIC's family of websites: including USA.gov, Pueblo.gsa.gov, Kids.gov, Consumeraction.gov and GobiernoUSA.gov.

Consumer Product Safety CommissionThe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

Consumer ReportsConsumer Reports is published by Consumers Union (CU), an expert, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves,. To maintain its independence and impartiality, CU accepts no outside advertising and no free samples and employs several hundred mystery shoppers and technical experts to buy and test the products it evaluates. All of CU's work is informed by the more than 1 million readers who respond to their Annual Ballot & Questionnaire, among the largest and most comprehensive consumer studies in the world. CU also employs a dedicated staff of lobbyists, grassroots organizers, and outreach specialists who work with the organization's more than 600,000 online activists to change legislation and the marketplace in favor of the consumer interest.

Consumer WorldConsumer World was founded in 1995 by Edgar Dworsky, a consumer advocate for more than 32 years. A companion site spotlighting the loopholes in the fine print of advertising, MousePrint.org, was launched in 2006. Dworsky is a consumer lawyer who has authored a number of consumer protection laws, including the regulations under which the Massachusetts Lemon Law operates. He was formerly the Director of Consumer Education at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation in Boston. He is also a former Massachusetts Assistant Attorney General in consumer protection, and was a consumer education consultant for the Federal Trade Commission.

DoNotCall.comThe National Do Not Call Registry, managed by the Federal Trade Commission, provides a way for consumers to register their telephone numbers to block unwanted telemarketing calls. By registering on the site, consumers' telephone numbers are placed on a permanent list and can not be called by telemarketers. It also provides information on how to avoid telemarketing fraud.

Federal Trade CommissionThe FTC deals with issues that touch the economic life of every American. It is the only federal agency with both consumer protection and competition jurisdiction in broad sectors of the economy. The FTC pursues vigorous and effective law enforcement; advances consumers' interests by sharing its expertise with federal and state legislatures and U.S. and international government agencies; develops policy and research tools through hearings, workshop, and conferences; and creates practical and plain-language educational programs for consumers and businesses in a global marketplace with constantly changing technologies.

Fight BackDavid Horowitz, creator, host and executive producer of the popular "Fight Back! With David Horowitz" television program, has been at the forefront of bringing consumer issues into public awareness for nearly 35 years. On his website, Horowitz continues to tackle consumer issues such as product safety, liability and commercial claims, and has expanded his focus into high-tech issues such as Internet and telecommunications fraud and identity fraud.

Food and Drug AdministrationFDA is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable; and helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.

Insurance Information InstituteThe Insurance Information Institute works to improve public understanding of insurance - what it does and how it works. The III has direct contact with the media, individuals and organizations, and publishes informational pamphlets and books ranging in subjects from 9 Ways to Lower Your Auto Insurance Costs to the I.I.I. Fact Book. The Institute does not lobby. Its central function is to provide accurate and timely information on insurance subjects.

Internet Fraud WatchThe National Fraud Information Center & Internet Fraud Watch offers detailed information about emerging and existing cyberscams. Consumers can get tips for protecting themselves by learning about the danger signs of fraud. They can also report fraud scams to the appropriate enforcement agencies and look through a variety of Internet fraud statistics.

RecallsRecalls.gov is a service designed to alert consumers to unsafe, hazardous or defective products. Six federal agencies with vastly different jurisdictions have joined together to provide timely information about products recalled by the U.S. government in a variety of categories including consumer products, motor vehicles, boats, food medicine, cosmetics and environmental products. In addition, consumers can also sign up for email alerts regarding recalls, report a dangerous product or get important product safety tips.

Scam BustersScamBusters.org is dedicated to informing consumers about Internet scams, identity theft and spam. It helps sort out the truth for consumers that frustrated and overwhelmed by of all of the scams, spam and other junk they see every day on the Internet and in their email boxes. Consumers can subscribe to a free weekly newsletter that offers resources on how to protect again these online threats and learning about them before they are impacted.

USDAThe Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture responsible for ensuring that the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged. Resources about food safety education, regulation and policies, and food recalls are also available to consumers.